A have-a-go householder beat up an habitual burglar who sneaked into his home and tried to steal his wife’s handbag.

Declan John Skimmings got more than he bargained for when he crept into Adam Richards property in Cefn Dre, Wrexham.

Mr Richards spotted Skimmings at the top of the stairs holding the bag and went to confront him and they both fell to the bottom of the stairs.

Skimmings was punched a number of times as Mr Richards tried to restrain him and police later found his DNA in the blood left on the wall and back door.

Skimmings, 25, of no fixed abode but who comes from Wrexham, was a “three strikes” burglar because of his previous record and faced a statutory minimum three year sentence.

But it was reduced to 876 days – just under two years and five months – because of his early guilty plea.

Declan John Skimmings, 25, of Cefn Dre, Wrexham has been jailed for more than two years for burglary

Sentencing Skimmings at Mold crown court, Judge Huw Rees told him: “You should understand that Mr Richards and his partner were doing nothing more than enjoying the comfort and security of their own home.